Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving will miss the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs as a result of another knee surgery, the Celtics announced.
A full recovery is expected in four to five months, according to a team release.
Irving will have another procedure on Saturday to remove two screws implanted in his left patella after the knee fracture he suffered in the 2015 Finals.
Irving underwent a minimally invasive knee procedure on March 24 to alleviate irritation in his left knee, and according to the latest release, pathology "indicated the presence of a bacterial infection at the site of the hardware.
"To ensure that no infection remains in the knee, the screws will be removed."
After the procedure in March, Irving was initially slated to return to basketball activities in 3-6 weeks.
During the surgery, a doctor removed a tension wire in his knee that was placed there during a repair of his fractured patella at the end of the 2014-15 season. The Celtics said Thursday that Irving’s knee remains structurally sound.
But now, no matter how deep into the playoffs the Celtics go, they will be without Irving, which will have a significant impact on Boston in the postseason which begins April 14.
The Celtics are 53-25 and in second place in the Eastern Conference but have been bothered by injuries all season, starting with Gordon Hayward in Boston’s first game in October.
The Celtics have gone 7-4 in Irving's absence and are essentially locked in as the No. 2 seed in the East, three games behind Toronto and five games ahead of Cleveland with just four games remaining.
Irving was having a fantastic season for the Celtics, who acquired him in August in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving, who was voted an All-Star starter, averaged 18.1 points, 5.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds and shot 49.1% from the field and 40.8% on three-pointers in 60 games.
Along with Irving, the Celtics are battling injuries to guard Marcus Smart, who is out until at least late April with a torn ligament in his right thumb and forward Daniel Theiss, who (knee) is out for the season.
The Celtics could face the Miami Heat (No. 6), the Washington Wizards (No. 7) or the Milwaukee Bucks (No. 8) in the first round of the playoffs.
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